Loader



Feb. 7, 1961 WAGNER ETA'L 2,970,707

LOADER Filed May 10, 1955 5. Sheets-Sheet .1

INFE'JYTDRS-' flak/ 06 1?. Wayne) :frlzald J. Werner 1961 A. A. WAGNER El'AL 2,970,707

LOADER Filed May 10, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fldol fi .21. Wayne! all-acid Werner 1961 A. A. WAGNER HAL. 2,970,707

LOADER Filed May 10, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1.2VYE'1YTORS JQcloZ o/z .24. Way): e2 :Zrnold J. Werner Feb. 7, 1961 A. A. WAGNER EIAL LOADER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 10, 1955 m M. J. 7 m P w mum A 3 Feb. 7, A A WAGNER ETAL LOADER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 10, 1955 LOADER Adolph A. Wagner, Milwaukee, and Arnold J. Werner, Elm Grove, Wis., assignors to Wagner Iron Works, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed May 10, 1955, Ser. No. 507,278

4 Claims. (ill. 214-140) This invention relates to improvements in loaders for farm and industrial tractors.

The present invention is an improvement on the type of tractor loader shown in our prior Patent No. 2,672,994.

An object of the present invention is to facilitate pas sage to the operators station. This is accomplished by dropping the base frame members which connect to the rear axle to a level below the operators station and making all frame connections to said base frame member at a point forward of the operators station. Accordingly, the operator may mount the tractor without having to climb over side frame members which would otherwise extend rearwardly to the rear axle and obstruct his pasage.

Our construction has the further advantage that the pivot point for the hydraulic cylinder which actuates the boom is both lowered and moved forward with respect to its position shown in our prior patent aforesaid. This eliminates need for underslung elbows on the dip perstick boom and better positions the jack to exert lifting thrust on the boom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for adjustably mounting the rear shoes of the base frame on the rear axle of the tractor. Accordingly, tractors having wheel bases of difierent lengths may be served by the same loader frame, adjustment for length being made in the connection of the base frame shoes to the tractor rear axle.

In this connection we provide means for quickly disconnecting the loader frame from the rear axle. In general the frame may be removed simply by loosening a few bolts, it being unnecessary to completely demount the rear axle coupling.

Another object of the invention is to provide additional structural bracing and hydraulic fluid capacity in the hollow tubular members which constitute the base frame. Accordingly, we provide in the side frames an intermediate upright frame member connected between the lower member of the frame and the arch and which bisects the arch. This member is a hollow tube and communicates internally with the hollow tubular members of the base frame.

The rearmost base frame portions of our loader frame are depressed below the level of corresponding parts in our prior loader frames aforesaid and constitute a sump for hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic pump for the tractor is, however, desirably mounted forward of the tractor radiator and aligned with the engine crankshaft, as shown in our copending application Serial No. 459,304, filed September 30, 1954, now Patent 2,722,324, granted November 1, 1955. It is part of the present invention to supply fluid to the pump from the rearwardly depressed sump through an internal pipe disposed within and protected by a hollow tubular member of the base frame. The pipe extends rearwardly from a point near the pump to the sump. The internal pipe has an elbowed end extending through the side wall of its protective base frame tube and is provided with a flexible hydraulic line to the 2,970,707 Patented Feb. 7, 1961 intake of the pump. Accordingly, the flexible line is connected to the frame at a point adjacent the pump. However, by reason of the internal pipe aforesaid, the pump draws hydraulic fluid from the depressed sump portion of the frame adjacent the tractors rear axle. This construction eliminates an exposed flexible line which might otherwise be subject to damage and failure.

It is also part of our invention to fabricate the hollow tubular frame member and pump intake pipe together in a novel succession of steps in which a rectilinear pipe is inserted in a rectilinear tube, an elbowed end of the pipe being moved laterally to project it through an aligned hole in the side wall of the tube and then both pipe and tube concurrently bent to dispose the ends of the tube and pipe remote from the pump in a depressed position.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a novel grill structure for the base frame which permits lowering of the dipperstick boom to ground position without interference by the grill with boom members, a novel cantilever boom construction, novel spring mountings at the sides of the loader and which engage the front axle of the tractor, and an adjustable latch and locking mechanism between the boom and a materials handling implement whereby the inclination of the implement in the.

ground position of the boom may be selectively varied.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent upon examination of the following disclosure in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a farm loader embodying our invention, a portion of the right front Wheel of the tractor being broken away to expose details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation of the connection of the rear end of the loader frame to the rear axle of a tractor.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view taken in cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified coupling of the tractor base frame to the rear axle of the tractor.

Fig. 7 is fragmentary view, partly in cross section and partly in elevation, of the fixed pivoted end of a hydraulic jack used to raise and lower the boom.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the loader frame and boom of the device of Fig. 5 shown separated from the tractor.

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross section through one side lever arm and upright side frame of the loader frame of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a view partly in plan and partly in cross section of the portion of the device shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view in cross section of a materials handling bucket and showing our mechanism for changing the angle of inclination of the bucket with respect to the boom.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in cross section, of the boom, implement lock and a portion of the bucket with which the lock is engaged.

Fig. 14 is a detail view partly in cross section and partly in elevation of the implement lock aforesaid.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the bucket showing the apertured plate which interlockingly connects with the locking pin on the boom.

Fig. 16 is a cross section taken along the line 1616 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a view in perspective of a further modified embodiment of our invention.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary enlarged view, partly in section and partly in elevation of one of the forward shock absorbing springs and its connections to the front axle of the tractor and to the loader frame.

The tractor and loader shown in Fig. 1 is designed primarily for light farm work. The tractor 22 is provided with rear wheels 23, front wheels 24 and an operators station including a seat 25, steering wheel 26, etc. It has heretofore been conventional to connect the loader base frame to the top of the rear axle 27 the frame proceeding therefrom upwardly at an angle and across the sides of the operators station, in the manner shown generally in our prior patent aforesaid. In the device of the present invention, however, the loader frame comprises a base frame member having side arms with a depressed portion 28, a raised portion 29, the raised and depressed portions being connected by an upwardly and forwardly inclined intermediate portion 30. arms of the base frame are interconnected across the front of the tractor by a front cross portion 31 which is bowed about the radiator of the tractor.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the rear axle 27 may be provided with wings or lugs 34 welded to the sides thereof and which provide anchors for the bolts 35 which tie the shoe or plate 36 of the coupling to the top of the axle. A flanged portion 37 of the fender 38 may be superposed on the shoe 36 and clamped by the bolts 35 thereto.-

At a point forward of the rear axle the shoe 36 is provided with a downwardly extending leg 39 made of flat stock having its major axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tractor. To the outer face of leg 39 we bolt flange 40 of an angle bracket 43 to which the depressed portion 28 of the loader frame may be butt welded. Flange 40 is releasably connected to the leg 39 by the removable bolts 44. Accordingly, the loader frame may be removed from its connection to the rear axle simply by loosening bolts 44, thus leaving the fender 38 and shoe 36, etc. semi-permanently attached to the rear axle by the bolts 35. i

The forward end of the loader base frame is provided with a tubular U-shaped member 45 bowed beneath the tractor radiator and provided at its mid-portion with an upstanding bracket 46 bolted to the bracket 47 which depends from the tractor frame. The foregoing construction is also shown in our copending Patent 2,722,324 aforesaid.

The base frame is provided with paired side frames, each comprising a forward leg 48 and a rear leg 49. The respective forward and rear legs are bent at an intermediate point to comprise arches S to which the gusset plates 53 are welded. The gusset plates 53 mount pivot pins on which the dipperstick boom is swingably mounted. The specific details of the dipperstick pivot mount are also shown in our co-pending application Serial No. 402,874, filed January 8, 1954, now abandoned.

The front legs 48 of the side frames are welded to'the forward members 29 of the loader base frame just op posite the connection to the forward members of the downwardly bowed member 45. Accordingly, stresses in the side frame members are transmitted directly to the support how 45 without stressing intermediate portions of the loader base frame. The rear legs 49 of the side frames are desirably nearly vertical as illustrated and are wholly forward of the operators station. The connections of the bottom ends of the rear leg members 49 are desirably nearly vertical as illustrated and are wholly forward of the operators station. The connections of the bottom ends of the rear leg members 49 are desirably reinforced by the gusset plates54. The gusset plates 54 and associated connections are wholly below the operators seat 25. As is clear from the drawings the passage of the operator to and from his seat is laterallyunobstmcted.

The dipperstick boom comprises spaced lever arms'55 The side upwardly elbowed somewhat at 56. The arms 55 are provided at their forward ends with pivot pins 57 to which a materials handling implement, such as the bucket 58, is pivotally connected. The dipperstick boom of the present invention is of novel construction. Arm elbow 56 is spanned by a gusset plate having a forward leg 59, a rearward leg 60 and an intermediate arch 61 providing a bridge over which the tension rod 64 is stretched. The forward and rear ends of the tension rod are welded to the lever arm at 65 and 66. The resultant truss structure provides a cantilever for the support of the bucket and its load. The downward inclination of the boom arms forward of elbows 56 brings the implement closer to the front wheels of the tractor.

In the crook of arm elbow 56 we provide an apertured plate 67 to which the piston rod 68 of hydraulic cylinder 69 is pinned at 70. The opposite end of cylinder 69 is pinned at 73 between bracket 74 and gusset plate 54. The hydraulic cylinder 69 is supplied with hydraulic fluid through line 75 from the hydraulic system of the tractor and under control of a conventional hydraulic valve (not shown). On manipulation of the valve the hydraulic jacks at the sides of the tractor may be pressurized to lift the boom and the bucket. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. l the jacks are single acting. Accordingly, when the pressure in the hydraulic jacks is released the boom and its load will descent by gravity.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 and Figs. 12 through 16, the bucket is provided with a manually actuated latch which comprises pin sleeve 77 mounted on the cross member 78 which ties together the respective arms 55 of the boom. Sleeve 77 guides reciprocating pin 79 which has a rearwardly extending shaft 80 with a cross pin 81 engaging the depending apertured ear 82 of lever arm 83 which has a fixed pivot 86 at the end of bracket arm 87. Bracket arm 87 is welded at 88 to the sleeve 77. The free end of lever 83 is connected to the actuating rod 89 which is pivotally connected at 90 to lever 92 mounted on a rock shaft 93 having handle 91 within the reach of the tractor operator. Oscillation of rock shaft 93 will pivot lever 92 about the axis of the rock shaft 93 to reciprocate the pin 79 in its guide sleeve 77. In order to leave the position of the lock pin 79 unaffected by pivotal movement of the dipperstick boom the pin 90 aligns with the axis of boom oscillation when the lock 79 is fully advanced (Fig. 1).

The bucket 58 is provided with an apertured plate 96 adjustably mounted between the parallel plates 97 welded directly to the bucket. Apertured plate 96 is supported on tubular sleeves 98, 99 which substantially completely span the space between the bracket plates 97. The plates 97 are provided with a plurality of spaced holes 100 to selectively receive bolts 101 threaded through the sleeves 98, 99. Accordingly, the apertured plate may be mounted in selected adjustable positions between the plates 97 depending on which pairs of apertures 100 are aligned with the sleeves.

The plate 96 is shown in Fig. 12 at a mid-position. It can be shifted from its position shown to a higher position, and the plate 96 can be removed, rotated through on the axis of pin 79 and replaced, thus moving the plate aperture 95 to a lower position. For this purpose aperture 95 is asymmetrically disposed with respect to sleeves 98, 99. In this manner the axis of inclination of the bucket with respect to the boom arms may be varied according to the mounting of plate 96. In the drawings we have illustrated side plates 97 having four apertures 100. However, it is obvious that any number of apertures may be provided to give any desired degree of adjustabilty.

The bucket 58 is provided with forwardly directed tines 102. Depending upon the terrain and the load, it may be desired to position the tines at various angles.

When the load is raised to dumping position it may be released by pulling on lever 91. This withdraws pin 79 from the aperture 95 in plate 96. The weight of the load will tip the bucket to discharge position. On return of the bucket to ground position the latch pin 79 will ride over the curved edge of the plate 96 and snap into locked position whereupon the bucket is ready for succeeding lifts.

The device shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 9 is a modified embodiment of the invention designed for heavier farm or industrial use. The depressed portions 105 of the loader frame arms are connected to the rear axle of the tractor in a slightly different manner than the device of Fig. 1.

The axle 106 (Fig. 6) is provided with wing lugs 107 which provide anchors to which the bolts 108 are connected in clamping the flange or shoe 109 of the bracket coupling to the axle. As in the device shown in Figs. 2 through 4, a flange 110 of fender 111 may also be secured by bolts 108.

Flange 109 is provided at the front of axle 106 with a downwardly projecting leg 114 which has a flat surface foremost and to which the depressed portion 105 of the base frame arm is butt welded. A gusset plate 115 may reinforce the connection between plate 114 and depressed member 105.

In the device of the present embodiment the flange 109 is provided with a series of spaced apertures 116 to selectively receive bolts 108 and to permit longitudinal adjustment of the frame with respect to the tractor. The provision for multiple apertures permits universal use of a single loader frame on tractors having different wheel bases. Ordinarily the first and third hole will be used in one position of the frame and the second and fourth hole in another position. Additional holes at any desired spacing could also be provided. In this embodiment of the invention the base frame is removed simply by loosening bolts 108, the shoe 109 being permanently attached to the base frame.

As in the previously described embodiment the base frame comprises stepped side arms each provided with a portion 117 elevated above the level of depressed portion 105 and an intermediate upwardly inclined portion 118. The side arms are cross connected about the front of the tractor by front cross member 119. The frame is mounted on the tractor frame by underslung U-shaped member 120 having tractor mounting frame bracket 121 (See Fig. 5).

This embodiment of the invention may also be provided with an upwardly and forwardly extending U-shaped member 124 which bows about the upper end of the tractor radiator as shown in Fig. 5. The side frame members comprise forward and rear legs 125 and 126 respectively, of substantially the same construction as legs 48, 49 of the device shown in Fig. 1. The arch 127 of the side frame members is provided with outer and inner gusset plates, 128, 129 respectively, which provide a base for the pivotal mount 13!) for the dipperstick boom.

The side frame in this embodiment of the invention additionally includes an intermediate hollow tubular member 133 welded at its bottom to the inclined portion 118 of the base frame arm and at its top to a sleeve 134 which spans the space between plates 128, 129 (see Fig. Tubular member 133 bisects the angle formed by front and rear legs 125, 126 of the side frame and serves as aded bracing for the boom pivot.

The juncture of side frame leg 125, upwardly bowed U-shaped member 124, downwardly bowed U-shaped 6 formed to conform to the contour of tubular member 117.

The dipperstick boom is quite similar to the one shown in Fig. 1 and comprises spaced lever arms 136 having intermediate elbows 137 bridged by the arched member 138 over which the tension rods 139 are stretched to constitute the boom a cantilever. The lever arms 136 are provided with spaced apertured ears 140 between which the piston rods 141 of hydraulic motors 142 are pivotally connected. The base ends of the hydraulic motor cylinders 142 are pivoted on pins 143 to the spaced brackets 144, 145.

Unlike hydraulic cylinders heretofore used in devices of this type, in which the base end of the cylinder is plugged and a transverse hole bored in the plug to receive the pin, we provide greater cylinder capacity and a longer travel of the piston by eliminating the plug and welding a transverse sleeve 146 to the base end of the cylinder 142. The end of cylinder 142 is formed in the shape of a saddle to receive the transverse sleeve 146. By reason of this construction, plug and cylinder machining operations are eliminated with the added advantage that the piston has greater travel in the cylinder.

To provide greater flexibility in transmission of thrust from the hydraulic motor to the boom the apertured ears 140 are provided with multiple apertures 147. Accordingly, the point at which the piston rod 141 transmits thrust to the boom may be adjusted.

The dipperstick boom lever arms 136 are connected near their forward ends by the cross member 148 and the gusset plates 138 are connected by cross member 149. At its midpoint the cross member 149 is provided with a bracket 150 to which the hydraulic motor 151 is pivotally connected. The bracket 150 is braced by the upwardly and rearwardly converging brace members 154 connected between the respective crcss members 148 and 149. The hydraulic motor 151 is provided with a piston rod 155 having a coupling 156 by which it may be connected to the materials handling bucket 157.

As best shown in Fig. 5 the hydraulic fluid for the side jacks 142 and the hydraulic motor 151 is pressurized by hydraulic pump 158 mounted on a platform 159 forward of the tractor radiator and in alignment with the engine crankshaft. The pump has an output line 160 which is connected to the multi-valve control 163 within the reach of thetractor operator. Control 163 is mounted on platform 164 in turn mounted on the rearward leg 126 of the side frame of the tractor loader. Valve control 163 has a branched output line 165 leading to the side jacks 142 and dual lines 166 leading forwardly to the double acting hydraulic motor 151.

The hydraulic pump 158 has a flexible intake line 167 which conducts hydraulic fluid to the pump from a reservoir consisting of the hollow interior of the interconnecting tubular members of one arm and its associated side frame. As best shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the intake line 167 is connected to the curved leg on elbow 168 of a small diameter tubular pipe 169 disposed within an arm of the tubular base frame. Pipe 169 extends almost for the entire length of the base frame arm and has its intake end 170 disposed in the inclined portion 105 of the base frame arm and just above the level of depressed portion 105 of the hydraulic fluid reservoir and acts as a sump. Accordingly, foreign matter may settle in the sump 105 and the hydraulic pump 158 draws its hydraulic fluid from a point near the sump 105 but the line 169 is within and is protected by the tubular frame of the loader.

Pipe 169 is assembled with the loader base frame arm in a novel manner. The bent leg portion 168 of the pipe 169 is of slightly less length than the diameter tube 117. The pipe 169 is inserted endwise into the tube while both are rectilinear. When leg 168 comes opposite an aperture 173 in the side wall of the tube, the pipe is moved sideways to project leg 168 laterally through the opening 173, as shown in Fig. 11. The leg; is then welded to the margins of the opening to secure the pipe in the tube. The end of the tube may then be closed by plug 174. The plug 174 confines hydraulic fluid to one side of the base frame. Thereupon the tube 105, 118, 117 and its enclosed pipe 169 may be concurrently bent to the configuration shown in Fig. 10.

We also provide a novel front grill structure which provides for protection of the hydraulic pump 158 but which permits lowering the dipperstick boom to lowered position. In this construction dual rectilinear straps 175 connect bowed members 119 and 124. These straps may be extended in curved form at 176 from bowed member 119 to a welded connection with underslung bowed member 1211. Accordingly, when the dipperstick boom is lowered to ground position, the cross member 149 will nest into the base frame at the junction of straight and curved straps 175, 176.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 17 is essentially the same as the device shown in Figs. and 9 in many respects. Accordingly, the same reference characters have been applied to similar parts. This embodiment differs in that it is of somewhat heavier constrnction than previously described embodiments and is provided with dual hydraulic motors 177 for actuating the bucket 178. Motors 177 are mounted on cross mem ber 1179 braced by the X-frame 180 extending between cross member 179 and a lower cross member 183.

In this embodiment of the invention the boom jacks 184 at the sides of the base frame are double acting. Accordingly, the valve control structure 185 is somewhat more complex than the one shown in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 5 but may be of conventional construction.

Fig. 17 also illustrates our novel coil springs 186 mounted at both sides of the tractor. The front axle 187 of the tractor is provided with a bracket 188 having a flange 189 with an upstanding lug 190. To the elevated portion 117 of the base frame arm we clamp bracket 193 having a downwardly projecting lug 194 which is in substantial alignment with lug 190. The ends of the coil spring 186 engage and fit over the respective lugs 190, 194. Accordingly, shocks imposed upon the loader frame are resisted by the springs 186 which receive direct support from the tractor axle.

We claim:

1. A loader frame for a tractor having a rear axle and an operators station spaced forwardly and upwardly therefrom, said frame comprising a base frame having substantially horizontal side members connected to said rear axle and extending forwardly therefrom at a level below said drivers station and being upwardly inclined forwardly of said drivers station whereby to leave clear the lateral approaches to said station for boarding personnel, the connection of said base frame to said rear axle comprising a bracket shoe disposed on top of the rear axle and having a downwardly projecting leg at the front side of the rear axle and to which a horizontal side frame member of the base frame is connected at a level below the top of the rear axle, said downwardly projecting leg and the horizontal side member being provided with bolts by which they are releasably connected, said top bracket being provided with means for connecting it to the axle in a plurality of positions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tractor.

2'. The device of claim 1 in which said means comprises a series of holes spaced longitudinally in the top bracket and bolts selectively engaged with said holes, said axle having anchor means engaged by said bolts.

3. In a device of the character described and including a tractor having a rear axle and a base frame mounted on said rear axle at a level below the top of said rear axle, a coupling between the rear axle and base frame member comprising a bracket mounted against the top of said axle, said bracket having a downwardly projecting leg at the forward side of said axle, said base frame member being connected to said downwardly projecting leg at a level below the top of the axle, said axle being .provided with wing lugs disposed in substantially a horizontal plane, said bracket being provided with a fiat surface substantially parallel to said Wing lugs, said surface being provided with a series of apertures spaced longitudinally of the tractor, and bolts selectively engageable between said wing lugs and selected bracket apertures whereby said bracket is selectively mounted on said axle in a plurality of positions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tractor.

4. A loader frame for a tractor having a radiator, said frame being provided with a grill guard comprising an upper tubular member bowed about the upper front of said radiator, an underslung member bowed under said radiator and an intermediate member bowed about the front of said radiator, rectilinear strap members interconnecting the upper and intermediate bowed members, and curved strap members interconnecting the intermediate and underslung bowed members, said curved straps projecting forwardly beyond the plane of said rectilinear strap members to comprise a protective housing for a hydraulic pump mounted between said intermediate and underslung bowed members, a boom pivotally connected to said loader frame, said boom comprising laterally spaced lever arms and a cross member therebetween, said cross member having an arc of movement intersecting said grill guard at substantially the intersection of said curved and rectilinear straps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,711,832 Cooper May-7, 1929 1,723,752 Underwood Aug. 6, 1929 2,048,561 Neveling July 21, 1936 2,301,102 Werthman Nov. 3, 1942 2,398,964 Rogers et al. Apr. 23, 1946 2,474,998 Acton July 5, 1949 2,485,139 Coats Oct. 18, 1949 2,487,512 Berger Nov. 8, 1949 2,551,322 Ford May 1, 1951 2,572,477 Harden Oct. 23, 1951 2,574,273 McLeod Nov. 6, 1951 2,610,754 Inskeep Sept. 16, 1952 2,672,994 Wagner Mar. 23, 1954 2,699,964 Hartung Jan. 18,1955 2,725,995 Silbaugh Dec. 6, 1955 

